Sen. Hune demands justice for meningitis outbreak victims

LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Joe Hune, R-Gregory, added his voice to the growing chorus of calls for justice for victims of the 2012 New England Compounding Center meningitis outbreak that resulted in 15 deaths in Livingston County.

Hune joins Congressman Mike Bishop in demanding that the Obama administration allow funding from the Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program (AEAP) to be issued to victims of the outbreak.

“I’m shocked that the Obama Administration would block justice for victims of this tragic meningitis outbreak,” Hune said. “Nearly four years have passed since this horrific outbreak and the victims are being stonewalled by the federal government. They don’t deserve this. And this is not how the Obama administration should treat people.”

Bishop and 17 of his House colleagues sent a bipartisan letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) last week demanding that the Obama administration allow funds from the AEAP be released for victims of the 2012 meningitis outbreak.

Hune introduced legislation, now Public Acts 279 and 280 of 2014, which gave the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) the ability to immediately suspend a pharmacy license when there is an imminent risk to public health, safety or welfare.

“I will continue to fight for the victims, and the families of the victims, of the New England Compounding Center’s negligence until they have justice,” Hune concluded.